Edition notes: Section XXIV - Plorate filii Israel. Performing edition prepared from the manuscript copy by Marc-Antoine Charpentier in the Bibliothèque National de France. Modern clefs. A simple realization of the Continuo part is provided for those accompanists who cannot play from figured bass. May be copied and used freely for all non-profit uses. The editor requests that if the edition is used in for-profit performance or for scholarly work that permission be requested.

Alto:
When the king of the children of Ammon
made war against the children of Israel,
and disregarded Jephthah's message,
the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah
and he went on to the children of Ammon,
and made a vow to the Lord, saying: Tenor:
"If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon
into my hand, then whoever comes first
out of the doors of my house to meet me,
I will offer him to the Lord as a complete sacrifice." Chorus:
So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon
with the spirit, strength, and valor of the Lord
to fight against them.Sop 2 & 3:
And the trumpets sounded, and the drums resounded,
and battle against Ammon ensued. Bass:
Flee and give way, godless ones; perish, foreigners!
Fall before our swords, for the Lord of Hosts has raised
up an army, and fights against you. Chorus:
Flee, give way, godless ones! Fall down!
And with our raging swords, be scattered! Sop. 2:
And Jephthah struck twenty cities of Ammon
with a very great slaughter. Sop. 2, 3, Alto:
And the children of Ammon howled,
and were brought low before the children of Israel. Bass:
When Jephthah came victorious to his house, behold,
his only child, a daughter, was coming out to meet him
with tambourines and with dancing. She sang:Soprano:
"Strike the timbrels and sound the cymbals!
Let us sing a hymn and play a song to the Lord,
let us praise the King of Heaven,
let us praise the prince of war,
who has led the children of Israel back to victory!"Chorus:
Let us sing a hymn and play a song to the Lord,
who gave glory to us and victory to Israel! Soprano:
Sing with me to the Lord, sing all you peoples!
Praise ye the prince of war,
who gave glory to us and victory to Israel! Chorus:
Let us all sing to the Lord,
let us praise the prince of war,
who gave glory to us and victory to Israel! Alto:
When Jephthah, who had sworn his oath to the Lord, saw
his daughter coming to meet him, with anguish
and tears he tore his clothes and said: Tenor:
"Woe is me! Alas, my daughter,
you have undone me, my only daughter,
and you, likewise,
my unfortunate daughter, are undone." Soprano:
"How, then, are you undone, father,
and how am I,
your only-born daughter, undone?" Tenor:
"I have opened my mouth to the Lord that
whoever comes first out of the doors of my house
to meet me, I will offer him to the Lord
as a complete sacrifice. Woe is me!
Alas, my daughter, you have undone me,
my only daughter, and you, likewise,
my unfortunate daughter, are undone." Sop:
"My father, if you have made an oath to the Lord, and
returned victorious from your enemies,
behold! I, your only daughter
offer myself as a sacrifice to your victory,
but, my father, fulfill one wish to
your only daughter before I die." Tenor:
" But what can I do, doomed daughter,
to comfort you and your soul?"Sop:
"Send me away, that for two months
I may wander in the mountains, and with
my companions bewail my virginity." Tenor:
"Go, my only daughter,
go and bewail your virginity." Chorus (SSAB):
Then Jephthah's daughter went away to the mountains, and
bewailed her virginity with her companions, saying: Soprano:
Mourn, you hills, grieve, you mountains,
and howl in the affliction of my heart!

Howl!

Behold! I will die a virgin, and shall not
in my death find consolation in my children.
Then groan, woods, fountains, and rivers,
weep for the destruction of a virgin!

Weep!

Woe to me! I grieve amidst the rejoicing of the
people, amidst the victory of Israel and
the glory of my father, I, a childless virgin,
I, an only daughter, must die and no longer live.
Then tremble, you rocks, be astounded, you hills,
vales, and caves, resonate with horrible sound!

Resonate!

Weep, you children of Israel,
bewail my hapless virginity,
and for Jephthah's only daughter,
lament with songs of anguish." Chorus:
Weep, you children of Israel,
weep, all you virgins,
and for Jephthah's only daughter,
lament with songs of anguish.